Double trouble: Zika-JE whammy stings Bhopal

Bhopal: First ever case of coinfection of Zika and

Japanese encephalitis

(JE), has been reported in the city. As of Monday, the number of Zika cases in Bhopal has gone up to seven.


A man in early 20s was first diagnosed with JE — an infection of the brain caused by the Japanese encephalitis

virus. After his admission to a private hospital, the youth is also being given treatment for Zika virus infection, said a health department official.

After the diagnosis of Zika-JE co-infection, health department has sent the sample of the patient to National Institute of Virology, Pune.

The patient was admitted in an emergency with fever. After symptoms of conjunctivitis were noted, patient was tested for JE, he added. Resident of central Bhopal, the patient is under constant observation. Both the virus can lead to cause neurological complications, said doctors. Currently, no specifi treatment for JE of Zika is available, prevention is the only way against the disease, said an official.

So far this year, Bhopal has reported four JE cases. Earlier in August, first ever case of co-infection of dengue and JE was reported in Bhopal. A 10-year-old girl with the infection was confirmed with the co-infection, arboviral diseases, common the tropical countries.

One more Zika case was diagnosed on Monday. Zika fever is spread by daytimeactive Aedes mosquito.